Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-04-20
THE SUNDAY scHooA.
Notes on tho Lsssoa for April "a
Joseph and His Father"

From Chicago Standard. BY Rev. J. II. Cosn.
The lessoA to b, stu lied is found In Con.
XVII La. Time, b G 1905, soon after last
lesson. Places, H~eiiopolis, capital Of lower
Egypt, and Goshen, the land cas-. Of the Milo
de to, where Jacob and his family settled
SPECIAL MENTION.
The Children Of Spae! in Egypt. Tho re-
moval of the chosen family to Egypt was an
essential part of the great plan which God had
traced out to their father Abraham Tho
promise had now been given two hundred
years, and they had neither possessions nor
family alliance, in the promised land But
they would soon have sought for both; and
the character already manifested by Jacobs
sons auyured I'll for their preserving either
purity or piety am d the Cansanites. Their
present relation to Canaan must be broken
OF, that it might be formed anew in due
time. They must be placed among . people
with whom they could not m 4, but from
whom they might learn the arts Of ~civltiza-
ton and industry; and there, under The dis
cipiiiie OF affection, the family must be con-
solidatei into the nation William Smith J
From the same valley Of the Nile, whence
the religion of Palestine. That same land Of
ancient learning, which in the schools Of Alex
andria was. ages afterward, the first settled
home and shelter Of the wandering Christian
church,, was also Tic uT9t oettl6u nome anu
shelter Of the wandering Jewish nation. Egypt
was the meeting point, geographically and
historically, of the three continents Of the
ancient world. 1t could not but bear its part
in the nurture OF that people which was itself
to Influence and guiue them all Stanley
70 Joseph sent for his father and the whole
family from Bcersheba rather Hebron, Gen.
40: u into Egypt; and God encouraged Jacob
by q vision, commanding him to go down, and
promising to bring him up again in this per-
sOl OF his descendants, who are henceforth
called by the collective name Of Israel. SO he
went down with his sons and their wives and
CHI dren, and all their cattle. The house Of
Israel nov numbered seventy souls, without
reckoning wives.
The Land of Goshen. The word means,
perhaps, heritage or flowers. While the pre-
else location and limits of the district are un-
certain, there IS little doubt as TO it's general
position. From the Scriptures We learn, partly
by direct 8 atenient, partly by inference, the
following: ~ 1t was otherwise known as
kamescs; t) was not far from Memphis, Pha-
raoh's place OF residence; O. was between the
seat OF government and Palestine; az was
away from the ce tier OF Egyptian popula-
tom" () was but three days journey from
the desert; () bordered on the Nile; "a IN
cluded Zoai, the scene OF the miraculous
plaques; 81 was exceedingly fruitful and u
pasture land; On was chiefly occupied by for
eigners, land hence the location of the Israel
ties there was in accordance with privileges
already granted to Others" l0 probably con-
tanned Pithom and Rameses, lharaoh's treas
ure cities. We may suppose that it CORE
sponded to the modern province, Esh-Shar-
kiyeh, which extends, according to Robinson
from the neighborhood Of Abu label to the
sea, and from the desert to the former fanatic
branch Of the Mica frontier province,
therefore, toward the northeast. Or. Harper.j
Joseph an historical parsonage. Through
out this narrative OF Joseph there is . life
likeness in the character of Pharaoh that
shows HIM to us as one OF the most veritable
objects presented in history. And what an
air OF reality In al these scenes here 30 exqui-
sitely portrayed! 1t is no invented tale. The
picture stands out wildly before us; age has
not dimHe its colors; remoteness of scene,
and wide diversity of life and manners, CAN
not weaken its effect. We see the figures dis
tinctly moving on that far-olf ancient shore.
1t is brought nigh 10 us in such a way that we
could almost as well doubt our senses as think
OF calling it in question. At ali events, no
mythical theory can expla n it No 1higher
criticism" az it is called, can ever make salts
factory to q truly thoughtful mind the COM
parison sometimes drawn between these aBi-
BILE stories" and the clondy fables that charac-
terize the carly annals Of other ancient ma
lions. We may as well doubt Of Cesar and
Alexander, yea OF Napoleon and of Washing-
ton, as of jacob, Joseph, and Pharaoh.
Lange)
Ltts a Plgfimage. The discipline Of life,
Its co,npensations and r%etrbutions, were never
more clearly deiineated than in the case of
Jacob In the beginning of his career he
takes the lead In craft and cunning, but as
time rolls on he Is oh ICED to fee from his
fathers house to preserve his life; he serves
seven years for a beloved wife, and is baked
iii his expected recon enss by a deceitful,
match making father-in-law; he serves seven
long years more for the object of his affec-
tons; during the next six years OF scrvitude
his wages are changed ten times; then he is
afflicted by tho dishonor OF Dinah, his
daughter; again afflicted by the revenge of
SIMEON and Levi; by the death of his beloved
Rachel while giving birth to benjamin; by the
dlsgracefnl incest Of Reuben; by the loss OF
Joseph for twenty-five years; and lastly, by
the present famine with all his
anxietses. Over against these dark
clouds stood the bow Of covenant
communed with him and blessed him at
Bethel, Mahanaim, and Pencil He sent him
away from Laban = wealthy chief He gave
linn favor IN the eyes Of Pharaoh. He caused
HIM to see his p~osterity grow up about him q
numerous and prosperous people. STANDARD
Canaan. The country inhabited by the pos
terity Of Canaan, who were hence called Ca
naanltes, and which was given by God to the
chiidr, n of israel, the p~ostsrity Of Abraham,
as their possession (Ex. d: 4 Lev. rs 3o).
The original boundaries are supposed to have
been Mount Lebanon on the north, the wilder
ness OF Arabia (Shur, Paran, and Zin) on the
south, and the river Jordan on the east On
the wesk their posses sions extended at some
point to the margin Of the Mediterranean.
Their boundaries on this side were partially
restricted by the Phillsiines, who held the low
lands and strong cities along the shore tGen.
10: 1g. Besides the possessions of the Israel
ties, the land of Canaan embraced Phgnicia on
the north, and Philistia on the southwest.
Cooks Comp. Quarterly
CONNECTING LINK.
In accordance with Joseph's invitation, ap-
proved by Pharaoh, Israel and h 9 household
came down to Egypt. On the way God speaks
to him IN the Visions Of the night" assuring
hmm that he is in the path OF duty, and that he
VIII go down with him INTO Egypt, and there
harmon re with the prom Sc to inherit Canaan,
God says, 1 wfH surely bring Mee up again,
and tn N Is added the assurance that the we'll
beloved Joseph shall at last close, for their
peaceful sleep, the eyes that so many years
have longed to behold him. Joseph and his
father meet In the land Of Goshen, the district
determined upon by HIM for the occupation OF
his X ndred, whose vocation a shepherds WAS
an abom. nation unto the Egyptiana" The
meeting was q joyful one-the fathers Joy al
on frame to endure. Then Joseph, with
characteristic sagaclty, instructed his brothers
a. to what they should say to Pharaoh when
brought before him. and Immediately went up
70 INFORM the klng OF their arrival. Che Ex-
Aminer.)
s~EED-TRyTHs AND GERM-rHoUGHrs,
l. The duty of honoring and helping ones
family and friends iva. l, g.
z b duty Of having something TO do.
Avoid ~laziness ". b.
3 Ones business may not be popular, but
it should be honorable ". 81. 1T q better to
ado. . humble place than 70 disgrace . high
one.n
4 The lowliest sphere NAV be made elori-
Gus by . patient aud hopeful spirit
g. Christ mercedes for us, and presents us
before the King OF heaven Tvs. l, q.
q The true measure Of life 10 in deeds, not
years ". 81
Z. Gods people should pray for the divine
blessing upon those in authority ". q.
s Capacity the trne condition and measure
OF promot.o on ". g ]. cll
O. 1t is our duty to seek out men OF fidelity
and consecrated ability to fill important trusts
". o..
10 IT superior prerogative Of Gods serv-
ants ". 10Y
II. This life is but . pilgrimage and should
lead to . better life and truer home ". o.